How I came to Islam

Please leave your comments, questions, and constructive criticism for editing, revising, Jazaakum Allahu Khayr :D

I used to be a christian, I was baptised, my grandmother took me to methodist sunday school, I went to russian orthodox church with my grandfather sometimes, black baptist church with my friend, and catholic with another friend. But I abandoned religion before Islam found me. I seen hypocrisy in the church, couldn't make sense of the doctrine, and just couldn't find God in church, although I tried.

I became a nominal atheist, and I suffered from depression for a long time because I could not see the purpose of existence. To my feeble understanding, all religion was the same, all I had been exposed to were different sects of christianity.

But my mother was still looking, she wasnt content, she didnt give up. And then she converted to Islam. When I found out she was serious (She started covering her hair with Hijab, and ignoring me while she concentrated on her prayer), I had to learn what she was about now, so I wouldn't be a stranger in my own home.

So I studied and studied and studied. The more I read, the more it made sense to me than anything I had ever heard of. But I was timid. I'd sometimes wake up my mother in the middle of the night, after reading about Islam, and want to declare Shahada. I'd wake her up, and then lose my nerve. "What is it Wes?" "Nothing, never mind, go back to bed" "Stop waking me up if you don't want anything!".

I also had an irrational fear of muslims, although belief had entered my heart, I was reluctant to meet any muslims at first. My mother invited me to a potluck the muslims were having, and the men ate seperate from the women. I felt very uncomfortable, not eating with my mother or sister, and unbeknownst to my mom, I never entered the potluck.

Then one day, as shes driving me to school (I was sophomore in high school), she says, "Why don't you just become muslim?", I surprised her and said, "Ok". "Really!?", she asked ecstatically. So I took Shahada that friday at the masjid after the Salat Al-Jumuah, masha Allah (I was super nervous, shaking the whole service). So I've been muslim for since May 2003, Alhamdulillah.